Green Friday: The Importance of Etsy & eBay

Written by Sara on February 19, 2010 – 9:00 am -

In the past few weeks, I’ve purchased the following items from Etsy: gifts for my bridesmaids, a fascinator which I plan to wear in my hair at our wedding, mini-valentines that are plantable (!!), and a lovely vintage hat for our photobooth. I’m also in talks with another artist on Etsy about having her craft dresses for our flower girls (more on this soon!).

But, given all of these purchases from Etsy, I got to thinking about how supporting the work of artists is another way to ”greenify” your wedding.

I read on blog after blog about the importance of supporting local artists/vendors when selecting who you’d like to help you on your wedding day. But isn’t the importance of supporting artists IN GENERAL, local or not, also important, given the alternative (investing in the lackluster mission of chain stores by purchasing pre-packaged, assembly-line-produced merchandise)?

I also thought more about eBay. eBay is literally an online thrift store full of items begging to be refurbished and reused. Instead of purchasing a brand new wedding dress, some brides select vintage or preowned gowns from eBay or other sites. Furthermore, by investing in collectible items, such as vintage typewriters, vintage hankies and much more, brides have the opportunity to perpetuate and honor the history of these items. What can be more “green” than that?

There needs to be more discussion of alternatives to greenifying America’s weddings. It’s not simply about recycled paper, soy-based ink and organic food; it’s more about making conscious, easy choices with the environment in mind.

What do you think? How are you “greenifying” your wedding?


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Posted in Eco-Chic, Inspiration & Insight, Personal | 1 Comment »

My List of Wedding Must-Haves

Written by Sara on August 21, 2009 – 12:53 pm -

Greetings, fellow lovers of what Fridays bring! Can we just take a moment and breathe in the goodness of another weekend approaching? Aah!

Because I’ve only been engaged for 15 days (who’s counting!?), I haven’t hammered any concrete wedding details out yet. However, I do know that my daydreams are filled with incorporating the following motifs/items into J and my wedding:

TwineChalkboardBirdcage Veil

 

 

 

 

1. Twine
I love the rustic quality that twine has – it reminds me of barns, of farms and of kissing a sweetie in loose hay. For this same reason, I’m also fascinated with burlap (think: table runners) and with raffia (invitations? programs?). As an added benefit, twine can be made from organic hemp – eco-chic!

2. Chalkboards
I love the idea of writing “Guestbook” on a chalkboard and placing it next to a vintage guestbook (click here for some great guestbook finds on Ebay!). Chalkboards would also be wonderful for menus, table numbers, “Reserved” signs, wine & spirits listings, etc. Plus, the chalkboard pictured here has a vintage appeal with its embellished swirls and distressed edges! As a P.S., chalkboards are also eco-friendly – think of the paper waste you’d have if you used paper goods for menus and simply threw them away post-reception!

3. Birdcage veils
A friend of my family’s got married earlier this summer, and she donned a birdcage veil and vintage sleeve gloves for the ceremony (click here to see a few shots of her wedding, photographed by Schuldt Imagery in Sioux Falls, SD). I loved her look, especially after I came to appreciate my love for all things vintage.

My favorite birdcage veils have been found on Etsy, a WONDERFUL web site that functions to sell handmade, homemade lovelies. The site boasts a huge wedding selection for everything from custom wedding dresses to handmade bout’s for the groom and his guys.

Here are a few of my favorite Etsy veilmakers; click on their names to view their Etsy shops: PowderBlueBijoux and Portobello. For all things ring pillows, click on Y&EBridal’s shop; you’ll be amazed at what they can create!

Have a restful weekend! XOXO Sara

[Note: All photos found via Google Images]


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Posted in Adornments & Embellishments, Decor, DIY, Eco-Chic, Fashion, Our Wedding, Photography, Vintage Beauties, Weddings | 1 Comment »